EC3
Free embodied carbon calculator for construction materials
Open-access platform that calculates embodied carbon emissions from building materials using a database of 16,000+ third-party verified Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). Enables comparison of low-carbon material options during design and procurement phases with integrations to Revit, Autodesk Construction Cloud, and Procore.
Why This Tool Exists
Architects and engineers cannot easily compare embodied carbon emissions of different building materials during design. Material selection decisions that affect carbon footprint are made without transparent data on supply chain emissions. Specification of low-carbon alternatives requires manual research across multiple sources.
Provides free access to 16,000+ materials with verified embodied carbon data from EPDs. Integrates with Revit and BIM tools to compare material carbon intensity based on project quantities. Enables teams to reduce embodied carbon by 30% or more by identifying and specifying lower-carbon alternatives during design and procurement phases.
How You Use It
Data Transparency
Exactly what this tool uses and how
https://docs.buildingtransparency.org/ec3/api-and-integrationsUse Cases
- ·Material carbon comparison during design phase: architect specifies concrete and compares carbon emissions of four different ready-mix suppliers using EC3 to select 30% lower-carbon option
- ·BIM-integrated material extraction: upload Revit model to EC3, automatically extract material quantities and calculate project embodied carbon in minutes instead of manual takeoff hours
- ·Low-carbon procurement: procurement team uses EC3 to set embodied carbon limits and verify that submitted material specs meet project sustainability targets before purchase
- ·Stakeholder communication: present embodied carbon reduction progress to building owner and certifiers (LEED, Living Building Challenge) with EC3 data and charts
- ·Supply chain transparency: manufacturers and distributors provide EPD data to customers via EC3 platform for competitive differentiation
- ·Regional material sourcing: explore locally-sourced material options in EC3 database to reduce transportation emissions
- ·Design iteration and carbon optimization: compare schematic design alternatives with different structural approaches (steel vs. concrete frame) and material mixes to minimize embodied carbon
Pricing
Sources & Research NotesResearch date: 2026-04-04
- https://www.buildingtransparency.org/tools/ec3/
- https://docs.buildingtransparency.org/ec3/api-and-integrations
- https://www.buildingtransparency.org/privacy-policy/
- https://www.buildingtransparency.org/api-terms-of-service/
- https://carbonleadershipforum.org/ec3-tool/
- https://www.autodesk.com/design-make/articles/embodied-carbon-calculator
- https://www.usa.skanska.com/who-we-are/media/constructive-thinking/the-ec3-tool-how-our-usa-commercial-development-team-is-reducing-embodied-carbon/
- https://www.fastcompany.com/90608415/microsoft-and-skanska-are-using-this-free-tool-to-dramatically-cut-their-carbon
- https://www.procore.com/blog/investing-in-our-planet-through-sustainable-building-and-procores-new-ec3-integration
- https://apps.autodesk.com/BIM360/en/Detail/Index?id=4506450668908070731
- https://marketplace.procore.com/apps/buildingtransparency-ec3
- https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230412005116/en/Building-Transparency-Announces-Latest-Round-of-Embodied-Carbon-in-Construction-Calculator-EC3-Integrations
- https://www.linkedin.com/company/buildingtransparency
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